Question

How do you use PEMDAS to simplify `2[-4+3(-7+4)]`?

Answer 1

2[−4+3(−7+4)]

The expression has so many parenthesis that no rule of order of operations is needed

2[−4+3(-3)]

2[−4-9]

2[−13]

-26

Answer 2

`2[-4+3(-7+4)] = -26`

Explanation:

First, we evaluate any expressions within parentheses.

`2color(red)([` `-4+3color(blue)((` `-7+4color(blue))` `color(red)]`

Within the innermost parentheses, there are no exponents, and no multiplication or division, thus we move on to adding `-7` and `4`

`=2color(red)([` `-4+3(-3)` `color(red)]`

Within the outer parentheses, there are no exponents, so we move on to multiplying `3` and `-3`.

`2color(red)([` `-4+color(blue)(3(-3)` `color(red)]`

`=2color(red)([` `-4+(-9)` `color(red)]`

There is no more multiplication within the outer parentheses, and so we move on to adding `-4` and `-9`

`=2[-13]`

Now that there are no operations left within parentheses, we continue. The only operation remaining outside of parentheses is to multiply `2` and `-13`

`=-26`